A vulnerability in the Data Collection Agent (DCA) feature of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain DCA user privileges on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to the presence of a credential file for the DCA user on an affected system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request and reading the file that contains the DCA password from that affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access another affected system and gain DCA user privileges. Note: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager releases 20.18 and later are not affected by this vulnerability.
The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 7.5, categorizing it as high severity. The risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to DCA user privileges, leading to potentially severe impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Currently, there is no public exploit confirmed for this vulnerability, which may provide a temporary window for organizations to implement necessary mitigations. However, due to the potential for exploitation, it remains critical for organizations to assess their exposure and implement the recommended actions.
Organizations should schedule remediation and ensure that they are using versions of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager that are not affected by this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
A vulnerability in the Data Collection Agent (DCA) feature of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain DCA user privileges on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to the presence of a credential file for the DCA user on an affected system.
The affected product is Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, with a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating high severity. The vulnerability was published on February 25, 2026, and classified as CWE-257.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of credential storage. Attackers may leverage this design flaw by sending crafted requests to access sensitive files containing DCA user credentials.
The attack vector is local, requiring high privileges, and the attack complexity is considered high due to the need for valid user credentials to exploit the vulnerability. User interaction is not required, making exploitation more feasible.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager must recognize the potential for significant impacts should this vulnerability be exploited. The blast radius includes potential unauthorized access to critical systems, jeopardizing organizational integrity and data confidentiality.
Given the high CVSS score and the classification of this vulnerability, organizations are urged to prioritize updates and remediation. The potential for exploitation, while currently not publicly available, poses a risk that cannot be overlooked.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager are affected by this vulnerability: versions prior to 20.9.8.2, all versions starting from 20.10 up to but not including 20.12.5.3, versions starting from 20.13 up to but not including 20.15.4.2, and versions starting from 20.16 up to but not including 20.18. Specifically, version 20.12.6 is also affected.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager version 20.18 or later. If an immediate upgrade is not feasible, organizations should implement workarounds such as restricting access to the credential file and enhancing monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their network controls and consider implementing configuration hardening practices.
Continuous security testing can also help identify any similar weaknesses that may exist in the environment.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unauthorized access attempts, particularly those targeting the DCA user credential file. Behavioral anomalies during access to sensitive directories should also be flagged. Implementing network signatures to detect unusual access patterns can further enhance detection capabilities.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability is a reminder of the risks associated with credential management. Organizations must adopt a proactive approach to security by regularly reviewing their security posture, especially for critical systems like Cisco SD-WAN.
Security teams should learn from this incident to implement stronger safeguards when handling sensitive information. Lessons learned can inform future development and security practices to mitigate similar vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability management programs are critical for ongoing security and should be regularly assessed and updated to align with evolving threats.
Penetration testing methodologies should also be employed to validate the effectiveness of security controls and ensure vulnerabilities are identified and remediated appropriately.
Security testing best practices can help organizations stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities and threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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